Julius

BoyLatin· “Roman family name; often said youthful”

Meaning
Roman family name; often said youthful (origin disputed)
Origin
Latin
Pronunciation
JOOL-yuhs
Syllables
2
US rank 2025
#424
US babies 2025
759
Best rank
#88 (1883)
Peak year
1918

Meaning and origin of Julius

Julius is often said to mean “Roman family name; often said youthful”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Latin roots.

Julius was the name of an ancient Roman family, the gens Julia, whose most famous member was Gaius Julius Caesar. Its origin is uncertain. It is often said to mean youthful or downy-bearded, from a Greek word for the first beard, and some scholars link it to Jupiter. The month of July is named in Caesar's honor, and Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar made the name familiar to generations of readers. Julius has a stately, classical air and is enjoying renewed interest. Jules and Jude are possible nicknames.

Popularity over time

05001k1.5k2k18801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1918: 1,416
US babies named Julius per year, 1880 to 2025

Julius has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #88 in 1883, and the most babies received it in 1918, when 1,416 were named Julius. In 2025, 759 babies were named Julius, and it ranked #424 nationally. That is 34% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.

Its national rank moved from #125 in 1920, #301 in 1950, #352 in 1980, #484 in 2000, #335 in 2010, and #424 in 2025. Of the 84,628 US boys named Julius since records began, 13% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 10,193 babies. Since 2010, 15,298 more have been named Julius.

Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Wilson, Irving, Ben, Morris, and Wilbur.

Where it is most popular (2025)

In 2025, Julius ranked highest in Rhode Island, New Mexico, and New Hampshire.

StateRank thereBabies
Rhode Island#2175
New Mexico#2249
New Hampshire#2515
California#295125
Massachusetts#30219

Gender, sound and spelling

In the US it is used almost only for boys.

Julius is usually pronounced JOOL-yuhs, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with J and ends in “-us”.

Middle names for Julius

A few middle names that flow with Julius: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.

Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
Luke Boy
LOOK
“man from Lucania” · Greek
#33
Charles Boy
CHAHRLZ
“free man” · Germanic
#48
Leo Boy
LEE-oh
“lion” · Latin
#19
Rowan Unisex
ROH-uhn
“little red one; rowan tree” · Irish
#59

Sibling names for Julius

Similar names

Marcus Boy
MAHR-kuhs
“probably dedicated to Mars” · Latin
#258
Titus Boy
TY-tuhs
“uncertain; a Roman given name” · Latin
#358
Cassius Boy
KASH-uhs
“uncertain (Roman family name)” · Latin
#583
Rufus Boy
ROO-fus
“red-haired” · Latin
#4,019
Lucius Boy
LOO-shuhs
“light” · Latin
#1,129
Linus Boy
LY-nus
“flax” · Greek
#1,913
Jesus Boy
hay-SOOS
“Yahweh is salvation” · Spanish
#173
Silas Boy
SY-luhs
“of the forest” · Latin
#71
Cyrus Boy
SY-ruhs
“uncertain; name of a Persian king” · Persian
#268
Augustus Boy
aw-GUS-tuhs
“venerable, majestic” · Latin
#407
Magnus Boy
MAG-nuhs
“great” · Latin
#765
Caius Boy
KY-uhs
“form of Gaius, perhaps 'rejoice'” · Latin
#927

Lists that include Julius

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Julius mean?

Julius is often said to mean “Roman family name; often said youthful”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Latin roots.

What is the origin of the name Julius?

Julius has Latin roots. Julius was the name of an ancient Roman family, the gens Julia, whose most famous member was Gaius Julius Caesar.

Is Julius a popular name?

Yes. Julius ranked #424 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.

Is Julius a boy or girl name?

Julius is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.

How do you pronounce Julius?

Julius is usually pronounced JOOL-yuhs. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.

Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings